Einherjar Day

Its often quite difficult to rekindle old traditions, that is of course if you can find a tradition from the old ways at all. The problem with a re-constructionist faith is that whilst the basics may be more or less laid down from historical accounts, the smaller customs often left to the imagination. It is laid out in front of us like a puzzle. A puzzle with many pieces unfortunately missing. In an ideal world, we could re-create these old traditions by way of studying history and any lore that we still have access to, but even that still leaves great holes in our customs and our annual calendar. 

Not sure how the Valkyrie intend on
carrying this guy up to Valhalla!

My argument, although not ideal, would be to start new customs wherever there is one of these holes. Anything that our young folk can carry forward into the future is a bonus, so long as the custom has a meaning, a story or a moral to go with it.

One day which approaches us soon in the UK and other nations is Remembrance Sunday, held this week on the 8th (and again on remembrance day held on the 11th each year.) Remembrance day today is there to mark and respect the Allied soldiers who fell in the two World Wars and all other wars up until present day. This is of course a recent commemoration, although it is hard to imagine a time where nations and folk have not held some sort of vigil for their fallen warriors in the past.

Within the Heathen community, Einherjar Day has become a recognised holy day. (The Einherjar are those who have died in battle and joined Woden's hall in Valhalla.) Whilst there is no consensus within the 'Old Ways' (be it Asatru, Odinism etc) as to what this date should be, in the UK it seems most logical to place it at the time at which the rest of society marks the death of their soldiers. Through a logical appropriation (although in this case obviously not a negative one) of mainstream society, it means heathens are adhering to something positive whilst not outcasting themselves.

I think the heathen mindset however respects all of our folk, from all across Europe who have died in battles. From the first Saxon folk who took up arms against the Wīlisc defenders, Luftwaffe pilots who bombed London in WWII, to our young lads who served in the Middle East all the way up until the present day. To the Heathen mindset, there is no longer tribal differences between kin at Odin's hall. All are welcomed and treated as brother. The idea that we might hate somebody just because they were fighting for the other side, even after death, is self-defeating as much as it is dishonorable. 

I implore you then to remember the fallen, as most do at this time of year. Do not mourn though. Eat well, and raise a glass to them. They have not passed on, but live on in eternal glory. Remember them as young men and women, prepared to risk their lives in the line of duty. In the eyes of the heathen, forever doing battle along side Woden or Freya. Hail the glorious dead.